Red letters on the dashboard, oh what a gap They pursue us to the deep end and then depart Watch as the cracks in the wall feel pain For only patterns on a snake's back give us genuine fear And I cannot lie, faces drop into the fire I get by all the time on a shelf above the door And it shouldn't be clear but it's not for me to decide It's a delicate degree, it's a number I can see Could prison cells be in my brain For they're safe inside the cover of a dirty face And everybody finds a college graduate with joy While I'm happy just sipping tonic water with lemon and lime And I cannot lie, faces drop into the fire I get by all the time on a shelf above the door And it shouldn't be clear but it's not for me to decide It's a delicate degree, it's a number I can see You sit at home up late at nights When it's beginning to arrive And honestly, I don't see the need for any routines I'm all out of sink, I cover my cuts And hope they are fixed before I get hurt again And all this ground beneath my feet Has decided not to crumble into the sea I walked in a house, it smelt of paint And the ceiling it has no trouble with me



Lyrics submitted by sethbrown

Track duration: 04:38

"The Salt Wound Routine" as written by William David South, Brendon Arthur James, Thomas William George Welham, Adam Michael Wilson

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


The Salt Wound Routine song meanings
Add your thoughts

10 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment:Great song, but have no idea what it means for sure. It takes to many directions for me to say one is right.

    Love Thirteen senses.
    Flag Betrayeron September 16, 2012   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:i think "red letters" can mean several things;In the bible Jesus' WORDS are in red letters(words of wisdom, how to be a better person,love & hope), the scarlet letter was well...scarlet (a sinner, bad person, not worth the time,to be shunned...EMOTIONAL hurt, acccording to societal norms).
    Most WARNINGS in our world are in red; auto dash lights, traffic signs/lights,poisonous snakes & berries.
    The pattern on the back of a snake only give us genuine fear....maybe we should be more fearful of what is unseen.
    ok i could go on & on but basically i think the song is about salvation, salvaging yourself,just because society wants you to live on a certain schedule or timetable (birth,school,college,job) doesn't mean that's right for you.Heaven forbid wanting solitude (on a shelf above the door) but no matter the routine, we all have loved & lost,both romantically & familialy, covered our cuts & hope they heal quickly because they do hurt like a saltwater wound. It IS a delicate degree.
    Flag catcandoon September 30, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:"And honestly
    I don't see the need for any routines"

    I always heard that as:

    "And honestly
    I dont see the need for ending with tears"

    But I stand corrected :P

    What an amazing song. Seems to have been deliberatly crafted to allow you to interpret it in your own way. Definatly seems to have undertones of drifting through life without a real focus though. Yet the last lines, "I walked in a house, it smelled of paint" etc. Does anyone else interpret this as a metaphor for a new beginning??

    Rob :)
    Flag Yiss!on September 08, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song is about a rather carefree person, who doesn't really take the time to shape his life but just goes where the wind takes him.
    Flag Cyberghoston August 24, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i know the meaning of the song, it's quite obvious but some of the lyrics don't make senses to me for example what does he mean by 'red letters'? and 'faces drop into the fire'?
    Flag thirteensenseskidon July 26, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Found this in a forum, for me it makes sense ;)

    "Will said it was about getting yourself into a routine in life where you realise it's actually bad for you, and you're just hurting yourself. And that it seems that no matter how hard you try to break away from this routine, it just seems impossible."
    Flag twistdlogicon January 29, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think this is the most beautiful song from "The Invitation." However I don't see the meaning as straight forward, can someone explain?
    Flag fur_theron January 24, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i love this the best. the meaning's pretty straight forward if u just read the lyrics.
    Flag sidewalkslamon June 20, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i am going to see them this year in may, i never herd of em til a fit lad i no lent me their album now i am 1 of their biggest fans!
    Flag charleigh123on March 27, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this is my favourite thirteen senses song. I dont know what it is about it but its just....beautiful. I especially love the last part
    "I walked in a house, it smelt of paint
    And the ceiling it has no trouble with me"
    *sigh* i saw them last year when they were supporting embrace and they were amazing...and the lead singer is pretty fine!
    Flag sOCS479on February 26, 2005   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

Back to top
explain